Man gets 50-year sentence for slaying during botched robbery

8/5/17 3:51 PM

FREEHOLD, N.J. — A man convicted of fatally shooting another man during what authorities say was a botched robbery has been sentenced to 50 years in state prison.

Kalil Griffin continued to maintain his innocence during Friday’s sentencing. The 30-year-old Long Branch man was convicted of felony murder, armed robbery and weapons counts stemming from the February 2011 slaying of Ronald Chisolm.

Monmouth County prosecutors have said Griffin and another man went to Chisolm’s apartment under the guise of buying marijuana but really intended to rob him. The other man was acquitted of felony murder but convicted of theft.

Griffin’s sentencing was delayed after his lawyer said a juror contacted him about possible jury misconduct. The trial judge agreed to interview jurors about the claims, a state appellate court eventually blocked the interviews.

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